Controller capable of achieving multi-variable controls through single-variable control unit

Abstract

A controller includes a control unit, at least one DOF (Dynamic Offshoot Factor) unit, and a compensation unit. The control unit produces an output signal for a process according to a measured signal and a reference signal, so that the measured signal can be changed to approach the reference signal. The DOF unit receives a selection signal corresponding to a variable of the process that affects the measured signal or is affected by the control unit. Also, the DOF unit produces a DOF signal according to short-time and long-time average values of the selection signal. The compensation unit incorporates the DOF signal into one of the measured signal, the reference signal, and the output signal to obtain a compensation signal being sent back to the control unit, instead of the measured signal, the reference signal or the output signal, to facilitate controlling the process.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A controller for achieving multi-variable controls through a single-variable control unit, comprising:
 a control unit, which produces an output signal for a process according to a measured signal and a reference signal, wherein the measured signal is able to be changed; 
 at least one DOF (Dynamic Offshoot Factor) unit, which receives a selection signal corresponding to a variable of the process that affects the measured signal or is affected by the control unit, and which produces a DOF signal according to short-time and long-time average values of the selection signal; and 
 a compensation unit, which incorporates the DOF signal into one of the measured signal, the reference signal, and the output signal to obtain a respective compensation signal being sent back to the control unit, instead of the measured signal, the reference signal or the output signal, to facilitate controlling the process, wherein the DOF signal is related to an offset value between a measured value of the selection signal and an average value of the selection signal, wherein a short-time average value is obtained by taking one sample of the selection signal or by averaging S samples of the selection signal or by passing one sample of the selection signal through a first low-pass filter that has a settling time substantially the same as the time required for taking an average of the S samples of the selection signal; wherein a long-time average value is obtained by taking L samples of the selection signal or by passing the one sample of the selection signal through a second low-pass filter that has a settling time substantially the same as the time required for taking an average of the L samples of the selection signal; and wherein S is equal to or greater than 1, and L is greater than S. 
 
     
     
       2. The controller of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is a single-variable control unit, and wherein the controller is a single-variable controller or a multi-variable controller. 
     
     
       3. The controller of  claim 1 , wherein the measured signal, the reference signal, the output signal, and the compensation signal represents a value, which is further treated with a function. 
     
     
       4. The controller of  claim 1 , wherein the selection signal corresponds to a process variable of the process, or a measured signal, a reference signal or an output signal involved in another controller. 
     
     
       5. The controller of  claim 1 , wherein the compensation unit incorporates signals such that the DOF signal and one of the measured signal, the reference signal, and the output signal are added up to obtain the compensation signal, or one of the measured signal, the reference signal, and the output signal is multiplied by a predetermined percent of the DOF signal to obtain the compensation signal. 
     
     
       6. The controller of  claim 1 , wherein when the short-time average value of the selection variable is substantially equal to zero, the corresponding DOF signal is substantially a zero signal; and wherein when the short-time average value of the selection variable approaches the long-time average value of the selection signal, the corresponding DOF signal will approach zero and thus can be considered as zero. 
     
     
       7. A controller for achieving multi-variable controls through a single-variable control unit, comprising:
 a control unit, which produces an output signal for a process according to a measured signal and a reference signal, wherein the measured signal is able to be changed; 
 at least one DOF (Dynamic Offshoot Factor) unit, which receives a selection signal corresponding to a variable of the process that affects the measured signal or is affected by the control unit, and which produces a DOF signal according to short-time and long-time average values of the selection signal; and 
 a compensation unit, which incorporates the DOF signal into one of the measured signal, the reference signal, and the output signal to obtain a respective compensation signal being sent back to the control unit, instead of the measured signal, the reference signal or the output signal, to facilitate controlling the process, wherein the DOF signal corresponds to a DOF calculated according to the following formula: 
 
       
         
           
             
               
                 β 
                 = 
                 
                   
                     
                       
                         x 
                         ~ 
                       
                       ⁡ 
                       
                         ( 
                         t 
                         ) 
                       
                     
                     - 
                     
                       
                         x 
                         _ 
                       
                       ⁡ 
                       
                         ( 
                         t 
                         ) 
                       
                     
                   
                   
                     
                       
                         x 
                         ~ 
                       
                       ⁡ 
                       
                         ( 
                         t 
                         ) 
                       
                     
                     + 
                     α 
                   
                 
               
               , 
             
           
         
         wherein β represents the calculated DOF, {tilde over (x)}(t) represents a short-time average value of the selection signal,  x (t) represents a long-time average value of the selection signal, and α represents an adjustment parameter for preventing the formula's denominator from being zero and adjusting β. 
       
     
     
       8. The controller of  claim 7 , wherein the calculated number β is further treated with a function to obtain a number corresponding to the DOF signal, which is in turn incorporated into one of the measured variable, the reference variable, and the output variable to obtain the compensation signal. 
     
     
       9. The controller of  claim 7 , wherein the control unit is a single-variable control unit, and wherein the controller is a single-variable controller or a multi-variable controller. 
     
     
       10. The controller of  claim 7 , wherein the measured signal, the reference signal, the output signal, and the compensation signal represents a value, which is further treated with a function. 
     
     
       11. The controller of  claim 7 , wherein the selection signal corresponds to a process variable of the process, or a measured signal, a reference signal or an output signal involved in another controller. 
     
     
       12. The controller of  claim 7 , wherein the compensation unit incorporates signals such that the DOF signal and one of the measured signal, the reference signal, and the output signal are added up to obtain the compensation signal, or one of the measured signal, the reference signal, and the output signal is multiplied by a predetermined percent of the DOF signal to obtain the compensation signal. 
     
     
       13. The controller of  claim 7 , wherein when the short-time average value of the selection variable is substantially equal to zero, the corresponding DOF signal is substantially a zero signal; and wherein when the short-time average value of the selection variable approaches the long-time average value of the selection signal, the corresponding DOF signal will approach zero and thus can be considered as zero. 
     
     
       14. The controller of  claim 7 , wherein the DOF signal is related to an offset value between a measured value of the selection signal and an average value of the selection signal.